Self Awareness Through Meditation

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Self-awareness has been emphasized as the goal of life by the thinkers of the yore and the present day. We are rudderless, live with a huge void and face conflict in life with doubt as to whether we are heading in the right direction. So long as we are engaged in collecting things, amassing wealth and moving around people, we have no time to look inwards. It is only when we take a break, look inwards and pay attention to the self that we can fix the goal and the right means to realize it. Paying attention is the move towards meditation.

Meditation has come in vogue as a means to reduce tension, which is the most prevalent disease among the rich and busy people. Tension is the cause of various psychosomatic diseases like hypertension, depression, cardiac problems, diabetes, allergy, etc. Modern medicine has failed to alleviate these and so the meditation is fast replacing medication. However, meditation is not limited to health. It is the means to attain the ultimate goal of life-self-awareness and freedom.

Meditation means to concentrate, to focus, to converge. Mind is a powerful tool but it is not utilized properly and in the right direction. Its energies are scattered and diverted in various directions. However, once focused, it is the most powerful tool and can be used to attain material objects or to attain spiritual heights. It can be used to create marvels or to destroy the beautiful creation of the Nature.

Generally our mind is moving in different directions to achieve multi-purpose goals set by us. It is mainly engaged, after meeting the creature comforts of bare existence, in seeking carnal pleasures, recognition and unique position in society and the world through amassing wealth, governing or guiding the destinies of people, or subordinating the will of those under one's command.

'Self-Awareness through Meditation' by Shri Ranjit Singh Kumat is an exceptional contribution to the Science of Consciousness and the Art of Living. Delving deep into the historical and philosophical perspectives, Shri Kumar takes us in a panoramic journey to ancient texts and teachers and modern thinkers from Yoga of Maharishi Patanjali as well as Jain, Buddhist and other traditions to J. Krishnamurthy, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Eckhart Tolle and other modern thinkers. His examination of the philosophical approaches to Self Awareness is profound without being pedantic and ponderous. He has the gift of being intelligible without being intricate. He puts it all in a systematic holistic perspective. All in all, the book is profoundly readable, engaging, lucid, instructive, educative, enlightening and edifying.

Awareness of the Self is the key to the doors of the Inner Space. That is where one encounters the Self in its innermost tranquil abode. That is where one acquires an understanding and the experience of the Truth ('sat') in Consciousness ('chit') and Consciousness in Truth. And that is the Triveni Sangam of Truth, Consciousness and Bliss.

Meditation is Power. Meditation is devotion as well as means to attain the end. Power is attained by concentrating and converging the energies of mind and sense organs. It is devotion as it involves total commitment and dedication to attain the ultimate objective. Once the mind is fully focused, it becomes the means to reach the desired goal.

A small child of 12 years was given a gift of magnifying glass by his father which helped him in getting the award of Nobel prize. This child was none other than Sir C.V. Raman, the first Indian scientist to receive the Nobel prize in Physics. He, in his speech while receiving the Nobel Prize, gave credit to his father for giving him the magnifying glass at a young age. The child, while playing, collected the grass and dry leaves and focused solar rays through the magnifying glass which ignited the fire. Father explained to the young boy about the power of concentrating the solar or other physical energy leading to qualitative change and further research in solar power led to discovery of an important principle of Science qualifying for Nobel Prize. What is true of concentrating and converging the physical energy, is true about energies of our mind and sense organs. So long as our mind is entangled in material objects and defilements, it is scattered, weak, deviated, aimless and rudderless moving like a dry leaf in accordance with the direction of the wind. Such a weak mind does not have power of its own to reach the desired goal. This very mind, when concentrated, concerted and determined and directed to a goal, has brought about astonishing results exemplified in the life of 'Saadhakas' or dedicated people. The power of a concentrated mind is infinitely more than the power of concentrated physical energy.

**Contents and Sample Pages**